Jesse Wegman in conversation with Claire Haley | The Lost Founder

New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman tells the story of James Wilson, a Founding Father whose bold vision shaped American democracy but whose legacy was lost to scandal.
The Atlanta History Center and A Cappella Books proudly welcome Wegman in honor of his new book, “The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People's Constitution.” The author will appear on conversation with Claire Haley, Vice President of Special Projects for Atlanta History Center.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase from A Cappella Books at the venue.
About the Book
As a young lawyer, James Wilson made a celebrated case for American independence in an essay that inspired the famous words “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” He wrote the first draft of the Constitution and, along with the more famous James Madison, played perhaps the essential role in its ultimate creation.
Wilson believed that the people are the ultimate source of all power. He argued successfully for a strong central government and a powerful presidency, and fought unsuccessfully for a direct vote for the president and the Senate. Appointed as a justice to the first Supreme Court, he was later brought down by reckless land speculation and died of malaria in the back room of a North Carolina tavern while hiding from his creditors.
Instead of being remembered as one of the nation’s great political thinkers, Wilson was virtually written out of history. But in “The Lost Founder,” Wegman brings to life the most prescient of the earliest patriots and makes a convincing argument that scandal should not diminish the life and impact of a brilliant, complicated man whose vision for his country could not be more relevant today.
About the Author
Jesse Wegman is a Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, where he writes about Supreme Court reform and constitutional amendments. From 2013 to 2025, he was a member of the New York Times editorial board, covering law and politics, the Supreme Court, democracy, and electoral reforms. His first book, “Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College,” was published in 2020.
About the Conversation Partner
Claire Haley is Vice President of Special Projects for Atlanta History Center, and a lifelong avid reader. In her role at Atlanta History Center, she leads multiple mission-based program series, including the author talk series and Living Room Learning, as well as representing the institution in local and national partnerships. Claire graduated from the honors program at the University of Georgia with degrees in History and International Affairs.